Altadena Girls helps youth who lost their homes in the fire

Teenagers lined up with their parents at a Boyle Heights warehouse this week looking for a little information – a Squishmallow plush toy, lipstick, a T-shirt, eye shadow, a cute hair accessory.

Another 15-year-old, who came out with one change of clothes before his home was destroyed in the Eaton fire, picked up toiletries and socks, underwear, pants and shirts. A 16-year-old girl, whose family only had time to catch cats before moving out and losing their home, sought out things she hoped would make her feel like herself.

Across LA, residents moved quickly to collect and distribute blankets, clothing, first aid kits and other supplies in response to the devastation of the Eaton and Palisades fires. Avery Colvert, a 14-year-old Pasadena resident, wanted to do something special for the many teenage girls, like her classmates at Eliot Arts Magnet Academy in Altadena, whose lives were upended by the fires.

The eighth-grader took to Instagram on Friday, creating a handle and logo with the help of her stepfather, Matt Chait, 44, who has a background in design.

Together, they present the Altadena Girls collection of offerings that include beauty and hair products – perfumes, cosmetics, pimple patches, straightening tools and diffusers – and new clothes. They also ask stylists for help.

“I started this to help the girls who were especially affected by the Eaton Canyon fire who lost their homes feel like themselves – and feel confident again,” Avery said. “They have lost everything, and I want them to feel normal when there is nothing else normal in their lives.”

The effort quickly gained momentum, growing to nearly 32,000 followers in a matter of days. It also attracted the attention of celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Mindy Kaling, who shared this work on social media. Avery was excited to hear back from high-profile brands like Huda Beauty and artists including Charli XCX who also wanted to participate.

Naohmi Ruiz, 13, Avery's classmate, lost everything in the fire – her favorite clothes, her baby and promotional photos. At the donation center on Monday, she picked out sweaters, t-shirts and perfumes that were neatly categorized.

“I want to rebuild a new cabinet,” he said.

“Although our hearts hurt and we felt sick when we heard that we lost our house, we are trying to get through it and stay positive,” she said.

Being on the road, among her peers, brought them a little joy, Naohmi said.

A line waited to get into the Boyle Heights store where the Altadena Girls distributed makeup, hair products and other items to young girls who were victims of the Eaton fire.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Longtime Altadena resident Elizabeth Gonzalez and her 15-year-old daughter, Ananda Shiffman, arrived for the distribution Sunday afternoon. They also lost their house in the Eaton fire and were out with very little.

“The Santa Ana winds come every year. We have had fires before,” said Gonzalez. But on Tuesday evening, “my son called me [around] 6pm and then, 'Mom, the mountains are burning.' I ran outside and couldn't believe it. It felt like it was our home.”

They filled a trash bag with important papers, a change of clothes, pillows and blankets and fled to their mother's house in a nearby neighborhood. Later, they ran away again when the fire started.

“Now we're getting our bearings,” Gonzalez said. “I brought my daughter here [today] because I'm glad they have a place for girls.”

Ananda's cousin, who also had to evacuate but did not lose his house, took the nail iron as he fled. Girls have been spending time doing their nails.

“I know it looks silly and ridiculous, but they're having fun and finding a sense of normalcy,” Gonzalez said.

Aurora Patlan, 16, a student at Blair High School in Pasadena, lost her home on the west side of Lake Avenue. She went to the broadcast looking for clothes and feminine hygiene products.

“Many people lost everything in the fire. I didn't think it would come to our house that night, so I didn't bring anything. I just got some cats,” she said.

The administration of his school and the parents of the students have also been supportive, he said.

“We're going through it together,” added Aurora's mother, Gabriela Flores. For now, they are living in an Airbnb while she tries to find a permanent place to rent.

“I'm just overwhelmed,” Flores said. “We need to get help.”

Amor Dionicio, 15, who attends John Muir High School in Pasadena, saw Avery's Instagram post and asked his mom to take him to the distribution. His place was destroyed and he and his family are now staying with a family friend.

“Losing everything,” he said. “It was really hard.”

Jada Tarvin Abu-Bekr, a Pasadena resident, works with youth programs in Pasadena and Altadena. A social worker says many of her students have been affected by the Eaton fire. She has volunteered to host community outreach sessions for Altadena Girls, which allows her to talk to her students and make sure their needs are being met.

“I'm like a connector, a bridge,” he said as he saw a familiar face and they hugged.

He said this program is important for many reasons. “It restores dignity and humanity directly to people, which is incredibly important.”

Altadena Girls distribution center in Boyle Heights.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

It also helps highlight the needs of Altadena's diverse and close-knit community.

“When people see Pasadena, they see 'rich Pasadena,' but they don't see Altadena,” Abu-Bekr said, “they don't see working class, they don't see people over 210.” [Freeway]. And when you go through 210, it's a very different world.

“These are the people who run your businesses. These are the people in the school districts who work with your children. … So, I think there are a lot of important things about this [drive].”

Altadena has long been home to a diverse community that includes many black and Latino intellectuals, artists and working-class families. Altadena School of the Arts, where Avery attends, has more than half of its students Latino, according to the Pasadena Education Network.

For Gonzalez, who lost his home, Altadena is a special place on the edge of the mountains with a rich history that is now facing problems of how to continue.

“Many of us don't know how to look at this,” he said. “But we're doing our best, one day at a time.

“I knew that our community is special, but now I see that everything is united. It's unbelievable.”

Sarah Quiñones Wolfson is a freelance journalist based in Los Angeles.